Pizza shop’s licence cut because owner ‘can’t control his temper’

A CONTROVERSIAL pizza shop has been stripped of its late-night licence on public safety grounds after police told how the owner – convicted of stabbing a customer – cannot control his temper.

UK Pizza, in Yoden Way, Peterlee, lost its bid to stay open late after police attended 17 incidents of violence or yobbish behaviour – mainly involving staff allegedly attacking customers – within two years.

Now civic chiefs say there is no place for this kind of behaviour in Peterlee and vowed to support police to make the town a safer place for residents.

Durham County Council’s statutory sub-licensing committee heard how police found two table legs and a hammer under the shop counter which could be used for weapons.

Sgt Robson described a catalogue of other incidents at the shop, including town centre CCTV footage showing owner Bakir Ahmed Ali and a member of staff chasing a male while brandishing weapons.

Sgt Tim Robson, of the police’s licensing unit, said it was clear from the amount of incidents associated with the premises that Mr Ali has “little control of his temper and the management of his staff and is unable to compose himself in a suitable way when dealing with drunk and perhaps violent or racially aggressive customers.”

Councillor Bill Jeffrey, leader of Peterlee Town Council, said: “There is no place for this sort of thing.

“Everybody should be able to go about their way without having to have any worries about being stabbed or injured.”

Councillors ruled the shop must close at 11pm.

Afterwards Ali told the committee: “You will never hear of UK Pizza having any more problems.”